Army to test hypervelocity projectile for 155mm cannon artillery

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — The U.S. Military is slated to start evaluating a hypervelocity projectile for the service’s artillery programs in 2025, in keeping with Lt. Gen. Robert Rasch, the Speedy Capabilities and Vital Applied sciences Workplace director.

The service is pursuing such a functionality as a possible munition for eliminating cheaper targets, relatively than utilizing high-end missiles for a similar mission, Rasch informed Protection Information on the Area and Missile Protection Symposium.

Hypervelocity projectiles are “an order of magnitude cheaper than its equal missile,” Rasch mentioned, “however can go actually quick to shut on the goal.”

The Military plans to prototype the hypervelocity functionality by means of the Fires Middle of Excellence at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Rasch mentioned, and can spend roughly three years learning the physics of capturing the projectile from a 155mm cannon.

“Now we have to study by means of testing,” he mentioned. “There [are] completely different bodily pressures which might be placed on that cannon — the quantity of power required to mission one thing at that pace.”

As a part of the analysis the Military may also take a look at autoloader capabilities. It would additionally purpose to make sure the projectile will reliably work whereas tied into the Built-in Battle Command System, the command-and-control system that connects any sensor and shooter on the battlefield.

“It’s obtained to combat as a part of Military formations,” Rasch pressured.

The mission to develop a hypervelocity projectile for cannons will transition from the Strategic Capabilities Workplace to the Military subsequent 12 months, Rasch mentioned.

“We’re joined on the hip with [SCO] proper now,” he mentioned. “My crew labored very intently with them to grasp the place they’re within the growth strategy of that functionality.”

Rasch is aiming to get the aptitude prepared for operational testing in fiscal 2028.

“It’s a powerful functionality,” he mentioned. “I’m trying ahead to attempting to show it into an Military platform.”